Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A Pre-emptive Peace

Walking
our dog Hobbes in our neighborhood, we sometimes pass a car with a bumper
sticker that reads, “I’m already against the
next war.” It made me think of a church woman who complained about the
student demonstrations against the Vietnam War, “Why can’t they be for something?” she asked. Another
church woman responded, “They are—they’re for
peace!”

I
like the idea of a pre-emptive peace to counter the justification for
pre-emptive wars. Politically, a pre-emptive peace means using diplomacy and
peaceful influence and pressure in concert with other nations, and supporting like-minded
public servants who can win elections and achieve these goals. (My pragmatism
as well as my sense of urgency will not let me waste votes on unelectable
idealists. And I must admit to having little patience with those who refuse to
vote because the electable candidates are not up to their standards of
perfection.)

Practicing
a pre-emptive peace can also be disarming personally. In the Sermon on the
Mount, Jesus advised, “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on
your way to court…” Many of the sayings in that sermon suggest practical
strategies of a pre-emptive peace: Greet strangers. Love enemies. Pray for
those who persecute you. Don’t exact revenge. Don’t be greedy. Don’t show off.
Pray, remembering to forgive as you ask forgiveness. Tell the truth. Be
faithful. Don’t be anxious. Trust God’s Providence. Avoid ultimate judgments of
others. Practice discernment.

Some
years ago, I was stunned to meet a totally disarming man: Mister Rogers. I did
not watch his “neighborhood” growing up, and I knew him primarily through
parodies of him on programs like Saturday
Night Live. I had just given the sermon at Pittsburgh’s Sixth Presbyterian
Church, which he attended, and he was waiting in line to greet me after the
worship service. A relative of his gave me a passionate, unexplained hug, and
then Mister Rogers stepped forward. “I know who you are,” I said good-humoredly
as I reached out my hand, aware and admiring of this man who had been ordained
by the Presbyterian Church to do his television ministry.

Now,
I’ve met my share of celebrities, so I know the experience of a celebrity swoon
that is sometimes felt in such encounters. But as he took my hand, smiling,
this was not what I experienced. Rather, I felt complete inner peace. Gently,
holding my hand, “the oracle” spoke: “You are very important to Henri Nouwen,”
he said. “Mister Rogers knows Henri Nouwen?” I thought, amazed. As we talked, I
knew that biblical “peace that passes understanding.” This is the peace that I
imagine one may encounter with deeply spiritual people, such as the Dalai Lama,
Mother Teresa, or Desmond Tutu.I just
was positively surprised to experience it with Mister Rogers!

There
are prophets who disturb us, pastors who prod us, teachers who unsettle us,
therapists who challenge us. But even they may convey a pre-emptive peace. Rev.
Jim Hughes, an NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) therapist, was one of the
rare people who could offer me helpful critiques that from anyone else could
feel devastating and debilitating, but in his framing of them made me feel
complimented and empowered!

I
believe that many more of us may practice a pre-emptive peace, beginning each
day by reviewing our agendas contemplatively, lifting all whom we will
encounter and all the day’s activities in prayer, and then returning again and
again to that place of peace throughout the day. After a spirituality workshop
in which I led participants in singing the Taize version of “Ubi Caritas” from
time to time, a seminary professor told me if she could just sing that
occasionally during her day, she would be far more peaceful.

3 comments:

Truly a peace-provoking blog! And since I first met you at one of the conferences I attended years ago (it could have been either Dignity or UFMCC), I have had that same sense of peaceful spiritual presence. You really are one of the "celebrities" that I am profoundly grateful to have met personally as well as through your published work. Namaste!

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ABOUT CHRIS...

Chris Glaser has a ministry of writing and speaking. Since graduation from Yale Divinity School in 1977, Chris has served in a variety of parish, campus, editorial, and interim posts. He has spoken to hundreds of congregations, campuses, and communities throughout the U.S. and Canada, and published a dozen best-selling books on spirituality, sexuality, vocation, contemplation, scripture, sacrament, theology, marriage, and death.